Highly selective enzymatic ring-opening polymerization: Syntheses and characterizations of thermoplastic di-block co-polyesters containing Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] and poly(ε-Caprolactone) Blocks

Abstract

Enzymatic modification of a microbial polyester was achieved by the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) with low-molecular weight telechelic hydroxylated poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB-diol) as initiator and Novozym 435 (immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase B) as catalyst in anhydrous 1,4-dioxane or toluene. The ring-opening polymerization was investigated at different conditions with two different types of PHB-diols: PHB-diol(P) containing a primary OH and a secondary OH end groups; and PHB-diol(M) consisting of 91% PHB-diol(P) and 9% PHB-diol containing two secondary OH end groups. The reactions were followed by GPC analyses of the resulting polymers at different time points, and the optimal conditions were established to be 70°C at a weight ratio of CL/enzyme/solvent of 8:1:24. The ring-opening polymerization of CL with PHB-diol(M) (Mn of 2380, NMR) at the molar ratio of 50:1 under the optimal conditions in 1,4-dioxane gave the corresponding poly[HB(56wt%)-co-CL(44wt%)] with Mn (NMR) of 3900 in 66% yield. Polymerization of CL and PHB-diol(P) (Mn of 2010, NMR) at the same condition in toluene gave the corresponding poly[HB(28wt%)-co-CL(72wt%) ] with Mn (NMR) of 7100 in 86% yield. Both polymers were characterized by 1H- and 13C-NMR and IR analyses as di-block copolyesters containing a PHB block with a secondary OH end group and a poly(ε- caprolactone) (PCL) block with a primary OH end group. NMR analyses and control experiments suggested no formation of random co-polymers and no change of the PHB block during the reaction. The enzymatic ring-opening polymerization was selectively initiated by the primary OH group of PHB-diol, whereas the secondary OH group remained as an end group in the final polymers. The thermal properties of the di-block poly(HB-co-CL)s were analyzed by DSC, with excellent T g values for the elastomer domain: poly[HB(56wt%)-co-CL(44wt%)] with Mn (NMR) of 3900 demonstrated a Tg of -57°C, T m of 145, 123, and 53 °C; and poly[HB(28wt%)-co-CL(72wt%)] with Mn (NMR) of 7100 gave a Tg of -60°C, Tm of 147 and 50 °C. Thus, the selective enzymatic ring-opening polymerization with PHB-diol as macro-initiator provides a new method for the preparation of PHB-based block copolymers as biomaterials with good thermoplastic properties and novel structures containing functional end groups.